Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 for approximately $775 million.
Amazon announced the acquisition in March 2012, and the transaction closed later that year. Kiva Systems built mobile robots that moved shelves or inventory pods across warehouse floors, bringing goods to human workers instead of requiring workers to walk long distances.
The technology supported Amazon’s effort to increase fulfillment speed and warehouse efficiency. After the acquisition, Kiva continued operating as part of Amazon Robotics, and Amazon increasingly deployed warehouse robots across its fulfillment network.
Kiva was founded in 2003 and had customers beyond Amazon before the purchase, including major retailers and logistics companies. Amazon’s acquisition led Kiva to stop supplying outside customers, which encouraged new robotics competitors such as Fetch Robotics and Locus Robotics. Kiva Systems should not be confused with iRobot, the maker of consumer robots such as the Roomba.